Israelis Slam Jews for Jesus Ad

Just a few hours after waves of irate listeners called to protest ads paid for by Jews-for-Jesus, the Kol Rega radio station took them off the air.

Malkah Fleisher, 06/10/08 12:58

Just a few hours after waves of irate listeners called into the Galilee and northern Israel radio station Kol Rega in protest of radio ads paid for by Jews-for-Jesus, the station took the campaign off the air.

The ad stated "Yeshu [a derogatory form of Jesus, which is a Hebrew acronym for "may his name and memory be wiped out"] equals Yeshua [accent on the penultimate syllable, the asserted Hebrew name of Jesus] equals yeshua [accent on the last syllable, the Hebrew word "salvation"]."

Three different versions of the ad featured voices belonging to a Russian, a Moroccan, and a haredi-religious Ashekanzi Jew. At the end of the ad a voice-over said, "Confused? Call for more information," and provided a phone number.

Dan Sered, head of the "Jews for Jesus" organization in Israel, replied that his group is just trying to share its faith, and inform Israelis that Jesus is the Messiah. The radio ad is part of a larger missionary campaign that includes full-page ads in the weekend editions of Ma'ariv and Yisrael HaYom, two Hebrew dailies. Christian activists have also been seen dispersing propaganda in Nahariya, Kiryat Shmona, and Haifa. The municipalities of Tiberias and Karmiel recently removed large "Jews for Jesus" ads placed at prominent intersections.[Jews-for-Jesus is] trying to do to the Jews spiritually what Hamas is trying to do physically

Israel National Radio's Rabbi Tovia Singer, founder of leading anti-missionary group Outreach Judaism, has said "Jews for Jesus" is " trying to do to the Jews spiritually what Hamas is trying to do physically." Singer adds, “In their spiritual assault on Jewish communities in the US, Israel and Europe, "Jews for Jesus" deliberately blurs the distinctions between Judaism and Christianity in order to lure Jews who would otherwise resist a straightforward Christian message." In response to the organization's 65-city tour in 2006, Rabbi Singer made a 20-part counter-missionary series available for free on his website.